Oh, say some, this concerns not me, I thank God there is mercy in Christ, and I hope for pardon, &c. Beloved, here is the bane of men's souls, they will be theii* own carvers, and take of the gospel what they list. Oh, BO much of Christ as concerns their own good they will have ; so much as concerns their pleasure and profit ; so much as they may have, and be proud too, and be devilish and evil in theii* life and conversation too. This they allow of. And it is pity he should live that regards not Christ in justification. But so much as concerns mortification and self-denial, as crosses them in their sinful com-ses, this they are strangers to. But, we must know, the gospel doth not only bring salvation, but it teacheth a man * to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts,' Titus ii. 12 ; to put off himself, his whole self, that he might have no judgment, nor no affection contrary to God. , To make this more plainly appear, take these few instances.
Instance 1. The verj' first lesson which the gospel enjoineth, is to ' cut off our right hand, and pull out our right eye,' that is, to deny ourselves in those sins which are most useful and gainful to us. Now when this is pressed in particular, to some that live in their secret beloved sins, pre- sently they begin to hate this blessed truth, and the ministry thereof. They know so much as will damn them, but so much, as without the which they cannot be saved, that they oppose. Contenting themselves with a bare form and outside of religion, they come to church, and take their books, and read, and hear, and receive the sacrament, &c., and in these outward performances they rest. Alas, beloved, what are these ? I tell you, all the privileges of the gospel do but aggravate thy damnation, if thou are not better by them ; for as they are in themselves invaluable privileges, and even ravish the heart of a true child of God ; so when they are not entertained to purpose, they make our sin the more heinous. Eveiy man is willing to accept of Christ, but it must be upon their own terms ; and what are those ? So they may enjoy their worldly delights ; so they may increase their estates by such unlawful means, and not be crossed. So long they are content that Christ and the gospel shall be theirs ; but otherwise, if they cannot enjoy Christ i:pon their own tenns, that is, if they cannot go to heaven and to hell too, they will rather regard their own profits and pleasures, than regard Christ. Oh, how do these poor wretches delude their owm souls ! Beloved, the embracing and obej^ng the gospel is a spiritual marriage betwixt Christ and the believer. Now, you know in marriage the will is given up to the husband ; the wife is no more her own, but at his disposing. So when once we are truly united unto Christ, we take him for better for worse. We must suffer with him, yea, live and die with him, and esteem him above all ; we must take Christ upon his own terms, or else he will not be had. If we lovo not ' him above father and mother (yea and life itself), we are not worthy of him,' Mat. s. 37 ; and therefore all that do not thus obey the
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gospel are rebels, and shall have the reward of rebels if they repent not in time. Were it not a comely thing, think you, for a company of traitors that had this condition propounded to them, if you will come in and live as good subjects you shall have a pardon, for them to go on presumptuously in their rebellion still, and think to have favour when they please ? Would not a sharp execution be the just desert of such persons ?
Instance 2. Again, Christ propounds pardon and forgiveness of sins upon this condition, that we will come in and Hve as wives* and as obedient subjects to his blessed Spirit, and not in swearing, filthiness, and other abominable courses, of which the Scripture saith, ' such shall never inherit the kingdom of heaven,' 1 Cor. vi. 9 ; and yet notwithstanding, Satan hath so bewitched many poor wretches, that they think their case is good, and it shall go weU with them, be their lives never so loose and opposite to the ways of God. They bless themselves when God doth not bless them, but rather curse them to their faces. The devil himself is likely to be saved as soon as such graceless persons as these, without repentance. No, no; if ever they expect a pardon, they must live as subjects ; if they frame not themselves to be guided by Christ, and come under his government, to be ruled according to his will, they have nothing to do with mercy and salva- tion : ' those mine enemies, that will not have me rule over them, bring them hither, and slay them before me,' &c., Luke xix. 27. We mock Christ if we ■will not suffer him to rule us.
Ohj. But I cannot obey the gospel of myself.